Choosing the right knife as a learning tool

I've just joined this forum after doing some research on knives. I found some great posts and will be looking forward to hearing your recommendations.

My cutting skills are still in their infancy to put it in a nice way. To get a feel for knives I bought different ones from a discount store. I ended up mainly with stellar knives.

After some time I realised that I use mainly these knives:

- chef knife

- santoku

- paring/utility knife

- hook knife for peeling

I suspect it would be good to start with either a chef knife or a santoku. Is it necessary/recommended to have both?

So far, I prefer the santoku. But it’s probably because it's lighter and sharper. So in getting a new knife I would be looking for:

- Either a gyuto or a Santoku depending on recommendations.

- Handle: I'm still in the early stages of learning and very adaptable, is there a reason to go specifically for one style? I like the WA handle for esthetic reasons, but that is not a factor in choosing this knife

- Carbon vs Stainless: I wipe my knives directly after use, but I do take a certain amount of time to do the cutting. What kind of maintenance does a carbon knife require, is it enough to wipe directly after use?

- Sharpening: I use the Knife Wizard KE198 for that as of now, and I know it's not enough for a good blade. Reading the sharpening posts was quite daunting as it seems extremely technical, but I guess that to get decent skills is not a lofty goal. I just want to avoid damaging expensive knives. Do you need different stones for different knives or can I use the same stones to practice on my cheap knives?

- Current uses: cutting vegetable, fish, poultry and meat. Also slicing chunks of ham I get from
Italy and Spain (not the huge ones)

- Budget: I have no problems splurging on a good knife, as I will be learning better technique through it and keeping it for quite some time. I guess I can get something really nice in the US$ 300 - 400 range just on the knife.

Reading from the forums, this is what I understood:

- Shun and Global knives are certainly a step up to what I'm using but not great value for money

- Tojiro on the other hand are good value

- the Konosuke gyuto is amazing

So to finish with some questions:

- Damascus pattern: is it there only for esthetic reasons?

- Is there any point in getting a good hook paring knive, I only use it for peeling fruits.

- I am based in the UK, but I have a friend coming to the US in October, and another friend going to Japan a bit later. Is Japan the best place to get my knives or is it cheaper in the US? Some products are cheaper in the US than in the country they're produced after all...

Sorry for the long post, I tried to include all the relevant info I could think of. As I said I am still in the early learning stage and very adaptable.

Wa handles are light handles. A good thing for many of us. They're often less well finished, maybe less robust. Western knives use "balance" as a selling point. Wa handled knives are more likely to be blade heavy. Which is objectively, platonically, certainly better. Because I speak for god on this one issue.

You don't want a santoku. If you do, it's just to prove to yourself you don't. Unless you have very limited space and want to save money.

Yiu don't want to spent $300 - $400 on a gyuto. Maybe you will later, when a) you become a competent sharpener, and b) you have developed your own idiosynctatic tastes by using a few different knives. You might spend too much on something other than what you end up liking. And there are just too many differen things "about" a knife that you're not able to consider without more experience for you to spend that much. There are amazing $400 knives that are prettier than amazing $300 knives, mind you. A dull $400 knife is about as good as a dull $35 knife. So figure a sharpening plan into your overall budget.

Typing from my phone, here, so terse. I hope a tiny bit helpfully, at least.

Your answer is definitely helpful, as I now know that I will be looking at using Wa handles. I did test the difference between my current santoku (wa) and chef knife (yo) and felt it immediately. It might be one of the reason I instinctively prefer my santoku for now.

In terms of my budget, I am not looking to necessarily spend all that money on the knife, but that's the range I'm ready to go to if it's worthwhile. I just want to get a knife that is a clear upgrade from what I'm using at the moment, but that will also help me develop good cutting skills. I suspect the tool you use will influence quite a bit your cutting style in the long run.

I also want to learn how to sharpen, so I will need advice on what to get once I choose my future knife. I am ready to allocate the necessary budget as I'm hoping to get something for long term use.

For a good, 240mm or 270mm (9-1/2" or 10-1/2") wa-gyuto you're going to end up spending $150 - $250, give or take.

The major distinctions between knives in that class are stainless vs semi-stainless vs carbon; light and thin vs very light and very thin; and appearance. There are other differences but they aren't really noticeable by beginners; and just between you and me they aren't all that important either.

Stainless is a better choice for most people starting out because it doesn't require you to develop extra maintenance habits while you're trying to learn knife and sharpening skills at the same time. Semi-stainless is very nice too, but you pay more for benefits which -- as a beginner -- you're not likely to appreciate for a long time.

A couple of stand out suggestions are the Konosuke HH which is a very light, thin, stainless knife; and the Richmond Ultimatum which is also stainless, a little heavier, and a little stiffer than the Kono. Both are extremely well finished knives, priced at just under $200 and sold by Chef Knives to Go. I suggest calling Mark Richmond at CKtG and talking to him about your options.

Also, give Jon Broida at Japanese Knife Imports a call. I don't know his knives well enough to talk about them, but Jon selects his stock carefully and knows as much as about knives as anyone in the business and will give you an honest and excellent recommendation.

Sharpness and sharpening are critical. You're going to want to buy a sharpening kit at the same time you buy the knife. You can buy a soup to nuts set of bench stones -- including a flattener -- for less than $200, or a suitably equipped Edge Pro kit for around $300. The Edge Pro is much easier to learn than freehand sharpening on bench stones; and -- budget permitting -- probably the best choice for most people entering this class of knives who don't already sharpen.

For a good, 240mm or 270mm (9-1/2" or 10-1/2") wa-gyuto you're going to end up spending $150 - $250, give or take.

The major distinctions between knives in that class are stainless vs semi-stainless vs carbon; light and thin vs very light and very thin; and appearance. There are other differences but they aren't really noticeable by beginners; and just between you and me they aren't all that important either.

Stainless is a better choice for most people starting out because it doesn't require you to develop extra maintenance habits while you're trying to learn knife and sharpening skills at the same time. Semi-stainless is very nice too, but you pay more for benefits which -- as a beginner -- you're not likely to appreciate for a long time.

A couple of stand out suggestions are the Konosuke HH which is a very light, thin, stainless knife; and the Richmond Ultimatum which is also stainless, a little heavier, and a little stiffer than the Kono. Both are extremely well finished knives, priced at just under $200 and sold by Chef Knives to Go. I suggest calling Mark Richmond at CKtG and talking to him about your options.

Also, give Jon Broida at Japanese Knife Imports a call. I don't know his knives well enough to talk about them, but Jon selects his stock carefully and knows as much as about knives as anyone in the business and will give you an honest and excellent recommendation.

Sharpness and sharpening are critical. You're going to want to buy a sharpening kit at the same time you buy the knife. You can buy a soup to nuts set of bench stones -- including a flattener -- for less than $200, or a suitably equipped Edge Pro kit for around $300. The Edge Pro is much easier to learn than freehand sharpening on bench stones; and -- budget permitting -- probably the best choice for most people entering this class of knives who don't already sharpen.

Good luck,

BDL

Could you go into a little more detail about the highlighted parts please? What other differences, and what are the benefits?

I've been continuing my research and found that a lot of people are raving about sakai yusuke knives, anybody knows how his Swedish Stainless Wa-Gyuto
compares to the Konosuke HH?

Also, I found out that I should probably get a knife for slicing and filleting fish. Is it worth it to aim for a Yanagiba? Or is it better idea to go for a Sujihiki? As far as I understand a Yanagiba is only for fish, but you can use a Sujihiki for both fish and slicing meat?

- Handle: I'm still in the early stages of learning and very adaptable, is there a reason to go specifically for one style? I like the WA handle for esthetic reasons, but that is not a factor in choosing this knife. The shape of the handle and the visibility of the tang are both aesthetics as well as functional. I prefer the classic french full tang handle as it allows you to use the hook at the end of leverage. But I have also found that the oval shape of many Japanese knifes to be comfortable for long hours of use.

- Carbon vs Stainless: I wipe my knives directly after use, but I do take a certain amount of time to do the cutting. What kind of maintenance does a carbon knife require, is it enough to wipe directly after use? As a beginner I would suggest sticking with stainless. I have been in the industry for going on 10 years and I have no intention of ever being a behind the desk kind of chef. So needless to say my knives are very important to me, and maintenance is something I do almost daily.

I own a few high carbon steel knives and am adding more every few months as I can afford them (its become something of an addiction). Carbon knives develop a patina which acts as a barrier to rust, it builds as you cut foods with different acids, you may force a patina as well by leaving some acid on them (Im a fan of either mustard or grapefruit for my patinas). So yes constant wiping is required. I have both a wet and dry towel at my station at all times, and never ever put away wet, although that goes for any knife.

- Sharpening: I use the Knife Wizard KE198 for that as of now, and I know it's not enough for a good blade. Reading the sharpening posts was quite daunting as it seems extremely technical, but I guess that to get decent skills is not a lofty goal. I just want to avoid damaging expensive knives. Do you need different stones for different knives or can I use the same stones to practice on my cheap knives? A good set of stones is imperative for a good set of knives, and should be part of any good cooks tools. I suggest (because you also have cheap knives) that you get a set of at least 4 stones, I have 7. Youll want a 300 and 600 grit stone to be able to give your cheap knives a new edge (given what youve been using to sharpen with), then a 1000 and 6000 grit to finish them off. I have a 300,600,800,1000, 3000,6000, and a 10000. If you go with expensive knives and keep up on them youll never use your 300 or 600 or even 800 but they are good to have around to help others.

- Current uses: cutting vegetable, fish, poultry and meat. Also slicing chunks of ham I get from
Italy and Spain (not the huge ones) Each knife is designed to do a specific job. Always use the right tool for the job. You wouldnt use a pair of pliers in place of a socket wrench, and you shouldnt use a french knife to bone a chicken. It seems to me that if you arnt slicing paper thin slices off of your ham you wont need a slicer, and if youre cutting already processed pieces of meat, fish and poultry you wont need a boning, fillet or scimitar.

- Budget: I have no problems splurging on a good knife, as I will be learning better technique through it and keeping it for quite some time. I guess I can get something really nice in the US$ 300 - 400 range just on the knife. This is a good price range to be looking at, the quality of knife in this price range should keep you satisfied.

Reading from the forums, this is what I understood:

- Shun and Global knives are certainly a step up to what I'm using but not great value for money

- Tojiro on the other hand are good value

- the Konosuke gyuto is amazing

So to finish with some questions:

- Damascus pattern: is it there only for esthetic reasons? In my opinion, yes. Others have different views though. Though some manufactures just etch on a damascus pattern with lasers... something to keep in mind.

- Is there any point in getting a good hook paring knive, I only use it for peeling fruits. I never use my hook (also called a turning) knife for peeling. I use it to flute mushrooms and cut turning potatoes

- I am based in the UK, but I have a friend coming to the US in October, and another friend going to Japan a bit later. Is Japan the best place to get my knives or is it cheaper in the US? Some products are cheaper in the US than in the country they're produced after all...All countries of tariffs on imports so I personally dont know, but I suspect that a German steel knife is cheaper in Germany and a Japanese steel is cheaper in Japan. In the US we have quite a few really great blade smiths working with good old fashioned American steel. What this may come down to is your personal preference. I like...no love love love my high carbon American steel knives, but my best friend loves her rosewood handle Shuns. Neither of us like the others knives for all day use, so my best suggestion is to go to the store nearest you and touch and handle the knives...see what handle design you like in your hand, whos weight and balance you find most comfortable.

Also do a google search and see if you have any blade smiths in your area. If you have some check them out, the quality of a hand made knife can be unmatched by the big manufactures. Plus youll be helping your local economy and thats always a good thing. You may even be able to pick every aspect of your knife. When my french was made I sent him dimensions of my hand so that he could craft a handle that would finally feel comfortable, I have small hands for a guy and all my knives have always been too big and bulky. I have to say that the sense of pride of over your custom made knife, a knife made for just you and no one on earth has a knife quite like it, will make all the care and maintenance a breeze. I used to see sharpening as a chore that I would put off till the last minute, now I do it every other day and my soon to be wife laughs at me and says I spend more time with Amelia (my french knife) then I do her

Sorry for the long post, I tried to include all the relevant info I could think of. As I said I am still in the early learning stage and very adaptable.Never you mind, a good question is never too long. I just hope I helped.

As a beginner I would suggest sticking with stainless. I have been in the industry for going on 10 years and I have no intention of ever being a behind the desk kind of chef. So needless to say my knives are very important to me, and maintenance is something I do almost daily.

I own a few high carbon steel knives and am adding more every few months as I can afford them (its become something of an addiction). Carbon knives develop a patina which acts as a barrier to rust, it builds as you cut foods with different acids, you may force a patina as well by leaving some acid on them (Im a fan of either mustard or grapefruit for my patinas). So yes constant wiping is required. I have both a wet and dry towel at my station at all times, and never ever put away wet, although that goes for any knife.

Thanks for the info, I am sticking to stainless steel for now as I guess I'll have enough on my hands what with improving my knife skills and learning how to sharpen knives. I definitely would like to step into to carbon knives at a later stage. Thanks for taking the time to explain how you work with carbon knives and how you maintain them/develop patina.

Quote:

A good set of stones is imperative for a good set of knives, and should be part of any good cooks tools. I suggest (because you also have cheap knives) that you get a set of at least 4 stones, I have 7. Youll want a 300 and 600 grit stone to be able to give your cheap knives a new edge (given what youve been using to sharpen with), then a 1000 and 6000 grit to finish them off. I have a 300,600,800,1000, 3000,6000, and a 10000. If you go with expensive knives and keep up on them youll never use your 300 or 600 or even 800 but they are good to have around to help others.

Ok, I will look to get a decent variety of stones. Probably going to practice a few times on my cheap knives before testing it on my future acquisition.

Quote:

Each knife is designed to do a specific job. Always use the right tool for the job. You wouldnt use a pair of pliers in place of a socket wrench, and you shouldnt use a french knife to bone a chicken. It seems to me that if you arnt slicing paper thin slices off of your ham you wont need a slicer, and if youre cutting already processed pieces of meat, fish and poultry you wont need a boning, fillet or scimitar.

My main usage is quite standard:

- cutting all kind of vegetables

- cutting raw meat

- Slicing ham

- deboning poultry, mainly chicken

Right now I do all of these with my chef knife. I'll avoid using the new knife on anything with bones or frozen meat, but I will use it for all the rest. I am tempted to get a slicer to cut thin pieces of ham and all other cutting meat/fish cuts, do you think it's worth it?

Quote:

In my opinion, yes. Others have different views though. Though some manufactures just etch on a damascus pattern with lasers... something to keep in mind.

Never thought about the laser bit, talk about a cheap trick...

Quote:

Also do a google search and see if you have any blade smiths in your area. If you have some check them out, the quality of a hand made knife can be unmatched by the big manufactures. Plus youll be helping your local economy and thats always a good thing. You may even be able to pick every aspect of your knife. When my french was made I sent him dimensions of my hand so that he could craft a handle that would finally feel comfortable, I have small hands for a guy and all my knives have always been too big and bulky. I have to say that the sense of pride of over your custom made knife, a knife made for just you and no one on earth has a knife quite like it, will make all the care and maintenance a breeze. I used to see sharpening as a chore that I would put off till the last minute, now I do it every other day and my soon to be wife laughs at me and says I spend more time with Amelia (my french knife) then I do her

That's a great idea! Definitely will look into it

Quote:

Never you mind, a good question is never too long. I just hope I helped.

Your post helped massively, I really appreciate you taking the time to go over all these points. It gave me a better perspective.